Liquid gas converter



Dec. 8, 1931. F. E. MACKEY 1,835,887

LIQUID GAS CONVERTER Filed March 24, 1931 INVENTOR 1V1 (key ATTORNEYSWITNESSES Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT orrrc FRANKLIN E. I'vIACKEY, OFLEBANON, OHIO LIQUID GAS CONVERTER Application filed March 24, 1931.

This invention relates to a device which is designed and adapted toconvert a liquid gas into a dry gas (vapor), that may be used in anystandard gas range, heater, laboratory apparatus, or other appliancesmade to burn natural or manufactured gas without any change in theburners thereof.

The conversion from the liquid gas to the dry gas (vapor) isaccomplished by the simple, safe and efiicient device hereinafter fullydescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a side view of a plurality of interconnected units embodying thefeatures of the invention;

Figure 2 is a central section through one of the units;

Figure 3 isa central section of an atomizer;

Figure 4 is an end view of the atomizer shown in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the several views of the drawings, itwill be apparent from Figure 1 that a plurality of substantially similarunits 10 are utilized for the intended purpose. As shown most clearly inFigure 2, each unit 10 consists of a gas expansion chamber 11 which isformed by aside wall 12 and end walls or heads 13 and 14. The side wall12 is cylindrical in the present instance. The end wall 13 is removableand is held in place on the side wall 12 by suitable fastening elementssuch as screws 15. The wall or head 14 is fixed or integral with theWall 12. The end wall or head 13 has athreaded bore 16 centrallythereof. The end wall or head 14 has a nipple 17 disposed centrallythereof. The nipple 17 has a discharge passage 18 therein whichcommunicates with the chamber 11. The nipple 17 has connected therewithan atomizer 19. The atomizer 19 consists of a body having a threadedportion 20 and a head 21. A discharge passage 22 extends through thebody of the atomizer and this passage consists of relatively large andsmall sections to act as a nozzle. The head 21 has a. transverse slot23. A deflector 21, which is preferably curved, is formed integral withthe head and has a curved free edge 25. The deflector 24 is arranged inrelation to Serial No. 525,018.

the outlet end of the passage 22 and also in relation to the wall 26 ofthe slot 23 for a purpose to appear hereinafter. By reason of thethreaded portion 20 the atomizer may be detachably connected with thenipple 17, with the passage 22 of the atomizer in communication with thepassage 18 in the nipple 17.

In accordance with the invention a suit-- able number of units 10 may beconnected together, and it is therefore to be under stood that thenipple 17 of each unit will be screwed in the bore 16 of the head 13forming a part of the unit to which eonnee-- tion is to be made, and sothat all of the expansion chambers 11 of the units will be incommunication with each other.

In accordance with the invention the ex pansion chambers 11 of the unitsused will increase in size or capacity starting from the inlet end ofthe converter to the outlet end thereof. The head 13 of the firstexpansion chamber 11 carries a plug 27 which is threaded in the bore 16.The plug 27 has a pas sage 28 which is tapped. to accommodate a pipeleading from the high pressure regulator or reducing valve (not shown).The passage 28 of the plug has relatively large and small sections toact as a nozzle. The small section of the passage 28 is threaded toreceive an atomizer 19.

The change from a liquid gas to a dry or vapor is accomplished asfollows. The liquid gas from a supply tank is first passed through aregulator or reducing valve, re ferred to above, to reduce the tankpressure of the gas. The liquid gas then flows through the atomizer 19of the first expansion chamber 11, where under the reduced pressure itpartly expands. The gas then flows through the atomizer 19 at the bottomof the first expansion chamber into the second expansion chamber 11. Theliquid gas leaves each expansion chamber 11 through the passages and 22,respectively, in the nipple l7 and the atomizer 19. The deflector 24 ofthe omizer flattens out the stream of liquid and forces or impinges itagainst the wall 26, causing the liquid to spread in the form of a finemist, or, in other words, causes atomiza tion or vaporization of theliquid gas. It will therefore be understood that by means of a series ofexpansion chambers and atomizers, the liquid gas will be broken up insuccessive stages and will also be allowed to expand freely insuccessive stages until it is finally converted into a dry gas or vapor,which may be used for the purposes mentioned. The gas flows faster inproportion to the expansion and with a corresponding reduction in thepressure beginning with the first expansion chamber to the last chamber.

If desired, a suitable number of metal screens 29 may be placed in thebottom of each expansion chamber to pick up heavy or oily particles inthe liquid gas which are later va orized by the flow of gas.

5 desired, the side wall 12 of each of the expansion chambers may beprovided with fins 30 whereby to carry off coldness resulting from therapid expansion of the gas and also to prevent frost from forming on thegutside of the walls of the expansion chamer. a.

It is to be understood that each unit 10 may be of any size suitable fordifferent gas requirements. For domestic use small units may be used,but for industrial purposes larger units may be used. It is also to beunderstood that where a large amount of gas is needed a comparativelylarge number of units will be used with relatively large nozzles toincrease the capacity of the converter.

Claims:

1. A liquid gas converter comprising a plurality of intercommunicatinggas expansion chambers which increase in size from the inlet end to theoutlet end of the converter, and means between and in communication withthe chambers to atomize the liquid as it flows from the first toward thelast of said chambers.

2. A liquid gas converter comprising a plurality of intercommunicatinggas expansion chambers, which increase in size from the inlet end to theoutlet end of the converter, nozzles in communication with adjoiningchambers, and means which co-operates with each nozzle to convert theliquid gas into a mist as it flows from one adjoining expansion chamberto the other.

3. A liquid gas converter comprising a plurality of intercommunicatinggas expansion chambers which increase in size from the inlet end to theoutlet end of the converter, means between and in communication with thechambers to atomize the liquid as it flows from the first toward thelast of said chambers, and filtering means Within each chamber adjacentthe atomizing means.

4. A liquid gas converter comprising a plurality of interoommunicatinggas expansion chambers, which increase in size from the inlet end to theoutlet end of the converter, nozzles in communication with adjoining

